I've been hearing so many things about the okuma baitcasting reels, and was wondering if their spinning reels perform just as well. I need a new spinning reel, and was wondering how the okumas stacked up against shimano reels. Here's some variables to help with my decision, any help would be greatly appreciated.
I use: 6-12 lb. test line, 1/16-1/4 ounce lures, and was looking for a setup to throw mostly Senkos, dartheads, and light texas rigs. I know the weights for lures and line are a little broad, but I can only afford 2 rods for right now (all my fishing tackle was stolen). If any more information would help you answer my question please ask away, Thank you.

I have a Shimano Sedona and an Okuma Avenger and find them pretty equal if not giving the advantage to the Okuma. It feels a little smoother than the Shimano.

Okuma was built around there spinning reels and make excellent high end ones with great value. The new alumilite reels like the 9 b.b. inspire or 10 b.b. aveon are excellent reels and for $85 and $110 respectively, are a great value compaired to 4 b.b. shimano for the same price. Shimano spinning reels are good but, for what you get, there not worth the price. I would suggest the okuma's above or a daiwa laguna or capricorn, better value, better drags, smoother than shimano. Dave.

I think you will find they are both good companies,The Sustain from shimano is worth the dough as is the Stradic MGFA,You may even want to check into reels like the quantum p.t. catalyst.It boils down to really how much you want to pay and then compare what you get bearing ,etc wise.I cant vouch for Okumas customer service,or quantums,but I know Shimanos customer service has been great for me and has gone to extra lengths to help me with my reels.
tight lines,
brian

Thanks so much for the fast replies guys, this board is awesome. I forgot to mention the most important part, I can't afford over about 60 for the reel. Thanks for the replies

Okuma Epixor $50, Daiwa Samurai $30. The best quality and price for 10 b.b. and 7 b.b. spin reels under $60.

Here is how the bearing count comes into play on most reels. You have to think where is the company making money with 10 bearings. I have opened almost all manufacturers reels and found bearings in odd spots that do almost nothing to enhance the performance of the reel. I think every manufacturer makes a decent reel or two in their line up. I see low quality bearings in a lot of reels out there. So where is your money going when you spend $60 for a reel with 9 bearings vs. a $60 reel with 5 bearings? Hmm maybe gearing, or better grade metal in the frame and spool...just a thought.

I was a tackle buyer for many years and have had the opportunity to test 100's of reels from many manufactures including Shimano, Daiwa, Okuma and Quantum. I'm quite aware of bearings vs. bearings, gearing vs. gearing and frame materials vs. frame materials. I recommend the Okuma because I've fished it. It's a quality reel and very smooth. It has quality SUS sealed ball bearings and a quality oil soaked felt and SS drag. It's the best reel I've fished under $60.

Dave T,
Great response, thanks a bunch. Great to hear something besides a one word answer with no reasoning.
Thanks so much, Dustin

hate to butt in...
But I have fished a ton of Daiwa, and a ton of Okuma reels, and never liked one, from the high end, to the low.
As for what Magmaster said, he is 110% right, if you guys are looking at the amount of Ball bearings in a reel to make a decision, you WILL NOT get the best reel for the $$$, Ball Bearings are a selling point, and most of the "extra" bearings you guys see, in these fancy reels, really do nothing for the reel, except add another part to corode, or go bad.
I would concentrate more on frictioned parts, and most importantly, the way the reel stacks line.
I have fished a ton of the new Stella's, (1000's, 2500's) and needless to say, I was pretty dissapointed, not to say anything bad about Shimano, ofcourse!
I have an old Symetre 100 Rear drag, that I would fish over any Stella, Sustain etc... No worm gear = smooth as silk. :)
just my 2 cents.
D

That's what the message board is for, to express your opinion. Personally, there simply is a very noticeable difference in smoothness between a high quality 10 b.b. real and a 4 b.b. reel, regardless of manufacturer. And did I misunderstand your post, did you imply that the symetre is smoother than the stella. Granted most fisherman can't tell the difference between say, a 3 b.b. reel and 4 b.b. reel, but a stella and a symetre, come on! Anyway, you and magmaster didn't answer the mans question. What do you prefer, a $60 shimano or a $60 okuma, and why?

that's right! ;-) much, much smoother. If you think I am crazy, that's cool! :) Anyone who's tinkered with enough spinning gear out there, I am sure would agree.
as to it stacking line/casting, different story!
As far as answering his question, I will let him decide, fishing is all about personal preference! If this is your first invesment in a solid reel, I say go Shimano, and let there "life-long" service, put a good taste in yo' mouth.
D

For 60 bucks, Shimano Sahara is my choice- I've fished the small ones for the perch for a few years, smooth as butter, great drag, actually takes the abuse from the salt pretty good- I had one Okuma, it did have quite a few bearings but it didn't like the salt one bit- very smooth from the get go, but after two trips it felt like poop- this was a few years ago, not sure how they perform now, my guess is better, but I've never had a reason to buy another spinning reel when the old one I have is a champ.

You will see that the cheap reels w/ alot of bearings are smooth for a few months then get loose and rickity. When you buy a reel or anything else just remeber you get what you pay for. Some people tend to think that I pay 500 bucks for a stella and they pay 50 bucks for some cheap import w/ a bunch of bearings that they got them same quality reel for a better deal? Duh...NO I have had mostly daiwa and shimano I will say that they cheaper shimano are better than the daiwa. But once you get up into the high priced reels they are pretty much even.

Thanks so much everyone for all the help, I have used mid-priced shimano reels in the past, and was just making sure there wasn't something better out there that I should know about.
Taylor, sorry I haven't replied to you man, I've been so busy, but I wanna hit the water with you soon so stay in touch. Thanks again, Dustin

Daiwa's line laying system is superior due to its spool design thus result in superior casting distance and less prone to line tangle in spool. But my favorite surf reel is the Shimano Cardiff baitcasting reel due to the low reel seat position allowing easy palming. If you are casting >3/16 oz, I would go with baitcasting reel; cast further, more control, better drag, retrieve and drop for lure, free spool for drifting bait & etc.